Certainly not for the first time this season, RMI were comprehensively outclassed and were simply not good enough as they took their defensive record to conceding thirteen goals in just the past four games.

Despite the demoralising effect of such a heavy defeat, it was actually RMI who took a shock lead early on when an excellent through ball from impressive debutant Lee Mulvaney found it’s way through to Chris Lane to capitalise on a defensive mistake to round the goalkeeper and slot home a rare goal.

RMI should’ve doubled their lead halfway through the first half when Lee Shillito was fouled on the edge of the box by Andrew Ducros as he tried to turn towards goal and create a chance, with Warren Peyton laying the ball off to Neil Gibson to fire the ball inches wide of the goal.

The Railwaymen looked surprisingly comfortable in their lead until shortly before the break when RMI goalkeeper Jon Worsnop misjudged a ball in to the box to allow Brewers fans favourite Jon Shaw to put a free header in to the back of the net to level it up for half time, destroying Steve Bleasdale’s hopes of an unlikely one goal advantage at the break.

Albion were undoubtedly on the receiving end of a half-time rocketing from manager Nigel Clough, and it certainly had an almost instant effect, with two quick-fire goals sealing the victory within the first eight minutes of the second half.

The visitors took the lead just five minutes in to the second half when centre back Barry Miller gave Burton a goal advantage, scoring against his former club on the rebound after Sam Shilton’s free kick on the edge of the area was parried away by Worsnop.

Substitute Chris Hall put the Brewers two goals clear and sealed the victory early in the second half when he met Jon Shaw’s cross to effectively end any RMI’s hopes of a comeback.

The sweltering heat of Hilton Park started to have it’s effect as the game slowed down and it resembled a typical end of season game with neither side showing any particular desperation to change the score, with RMI seemingly accepting that relegation is a mere formality.

The game reached rout proportions in the final quarter when Andy Corbett met Hall’s cross to make it a comfortable 4-1 victory for Albion.

The defeat leaves RMI thirteen points adrift of safety and I’m sure I’m not alone in simply wishing for this dreadful season to end as soon as possible to put the long-suffering RMI support out of their misery and allow the club to build for the future in Conference North next season.

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